News

New station sets the standard

THE opening of St Pancras International has impressed St Albans MP Anne Main, who thinks the company may finally be on the right track.

The inaugural First Capital Connect (FCC) service arrived at the station yesterday when it was officially opened by MP Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, chief executive of the First
Group, who own the station and run FCC, and the chief executive of Network Rail.

Mrs Main said: "I am delighted that we in St Albans now have this excellent facility and no longer have to suffer the shabby Kings Cross Thameslink station every time we come to the capital.

"Things are now starting to head down the right track on the Thameslink route after a long wait."

Tomorrow, Mrs Main and Mark Tarry, area manager of FCC, are meeting to discuss the next steps to carry on improving services on the route.

Mrs Main added: "Longer platforms, better access to stations, especially for disabled people, and longer trains with more carriages are all needed at St Albans to improve the conditions on the
route, putting an end to the cattle-truck conditions which commuters have already endured for too long.

"FCC have assured me that these things are all now being actively planned-for as part of their long term strategy to deliver a first class service for my constituents."